Pyroxylin composition and process of making the same



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7 Patented Sept. 2%, 1322. I

WILLIAM G. LinnsAY, or NEWARK, new JERSEY, assrenor. T0

arsenic case cs.

THE CELLULGID COMPANY, A CORPORATION-OF NEW JERSEY.

PYROXYLIN CGMPOSITTON AND PROCESS or MAKING THE SAME.

T 0 all whom it my concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM GLINDSAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Pyroxylin Compositionand Processes of Making Same, of which the following is a specification.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a new and improvedcomposition of matter having the quality of flexibility as well as otherdesirable-qualities. This and other objects of myinvention will be madeapparentin the following specification and claims, in which I disclosecertain specific embodiments of the invention.

It has been known that when it was desired to make a variety ofcelluloid or similar substance having a high degree of flexibility, thisend could be attained by the addition of castor oil. Thus, inaddition tothe usual ingredients in celluloid, namely, nitrocellulose and'camphor,a more flexible variety could be obtained by the inclusion therewith ofa certain amount of castor oil. On the other hand, compositions obtainedin this way have a number of disadvantages. They may become'rancid andsome preservative has to be included to counteract this; also such acomposition including castor oil is apt to deteriorate rather rapidlyand be come weak and brittle. Castor oil has been used to conferflexibility on other celluloidlike substances, such as a composition ofphosphate, or other aromatic phosp ate in matter obtained by bringingtogether in a suitable manner nitrocellulose and tricresylphosphate.

I have discovered an improved way for securing flexibility of such amaterial, by which the use of castor oil is entirely avoided and itsdisadvantages are avoided and a superior product is obtained.

' Heretofore, in the preparation of a celluloid-like substance fromnitrocellulose and tricresylphosphate, the proportions used have beenusually about 100 arts ofnitrocellulose and to parts 0tricresylphosphate. This gives a firm celluloid-like substance when itis molded. Like celluloid it can be given an increased flexibility bythe addition of castor oil. M discovery and improvement involves greatyincreasing the proportion of tricresylphosphate and not 'phate and workthis up on machines 1n the same manner as Applicationfiledlebruary 16,1920. Serial No. 359,108.

using any castor oil. The following is one specific example of procedurein accordance with my discovery and invention.

I take '100 parts of nitrocellulose and' lO parts of tricresylphosphateand unite-them n accordance with the procedure described in my PatentNo. 1,233,374, that is, I wet the nitrocellulose and then work thetric'resylphosphate in with it until a homogeneous plastic massisobtained. Next, I'extract the moisture and then add a small proportionof any suitable solvent,such for example as acetone, alcohol and etheror any other of the well known pyroxylin solvents which will alsodissolve tricresylphosphate, and 100 parts additional oftricresylphoskneading rolls until it is thoroughly mixed and homogeneous andthen press itinto a solid block. In this form the composition is ofyielding flexible character like india rubber.

If sheets of any thickness are desired, they may be shaved from thisblock b shaving rom celluloid blocks, or by dissolving the productinvolatile solvents flowing and evaporating the same in the usualmanner.

I may use other proportions. of tricresylphosphate. ibility withproportions running all the way from 60 to 500 parts in the aggregate oftricresylphosphate to 100 parts of nitrocel lulose. i

For some uses, I may substitute tri henylplace of tricresylphosphate,using substantially the same proportions as above specified, but ingeneral I prefer tricresylphosphate because of its superior qualitiesand resulting better product.

The substance has many applications. By "using alarge quantity ofsolvent it can be obtained in liquid form and then brushed upon fabricor other surfaces like a varnish and 'when the solvent dries out theflexible coat ing Wlll remain closely adherent to the S111".

face. It can be molded and pressed into various desired shapes. Blocksof this comosition may be used for cushion bufl'ers. y using a suitablefabric and suitable thickness of the material herein described andclaimed, 11 can produce superior varieties of so-called artificialleather and the surface Indeed I secure increased flexcan be stamped inimitation of morocco or alligator skin or in any other way. Thin sheets,say /1000 to 1/100 of an inch in thickness, may be laid on closely wovencotton fabric that has been brushed over with the solvent. Uponapplication of pressure,

together with heat the sheet of the substance is intimately united tothe fabric. The res'ult is a highly flexible water-proof fabric.

It can be crumpled up compactly in the hand without acquiring anyset'and without breaking the coating. These are only a few suggestionsof the many uses to which the improved material may be put.

In 'addition to flexibility my improved composition has otheradvantageous qualiportion of tricresylphosphate so that, for instance,with 300 parts tricresylphosphate to 100 parts'pyroxylin the product issubstantially non-inflammable. The ingredients are comparativelyinexpensive and the process of uniting them is not expensive so that thematerial may be cheaply produced.

. I claim 1. A composition of-matter com rising nitro-cellulose and anaromatic phosp ate in proportions of 100 parts of nitrocellulose to over60 position aving a high degree of flexibility. 2. A composition ofmatter comprising nitrocellulose and tricresylphosphate in theproportions of 100 parts ofnitrocellulose to over 60 parts of thephosphate.

3. A process consisting of intimately mixing hydrous nitrocellulose andtricresylphosphate, the proportion of the latter being then orsubsequently approximately 60 to 300 parts to 100 parts of pyroxylin, toform a product containing said constituents in said proportion.

4. A composition of matter comprising nitrocellulose and a liquidaromatic phosphate in the proportions of 100 parts of nitrocellulose toover 60 parts of the phosphate.

5. A composition of matter comprising nitrocellulose and liquidtricresylphosphate in the proportions of 100 parts nitrocellulose toov'er 60 parts of the phosphate.

6. An. article of manufacture comprising nitrocellulose and a liquidaromatic phosphate in the proportions of 100 parts of nitrocellulose toover 60 parts of the phos phate, the product being waterproof, durableand in thin sheet form so highly elastic that it may be crumpled.compactly without cracking breakin'g or acquiring a permanent set atordinary atmospheric temperatures.

WILLIAM G. LINDSAY.

parts of the phosphate, said com-

